Transcript Highlights:

• That bucket supports the CTE pilot project, it supports student organizations, it supports work-based
• It's just meant to integrate the community and provide additional supports to students in that community
• But they are spaces where students can kind of go get some additional help and support and maybe take
• The idea is to support student wellness, but I'm happy to Answer any other questions, and we can look
• Students.

Transcript Highlights:

• Maine receives more than $65 million. to support K-12 students with special education needs.
• Shameful attacks on Jewish students, Jewish American students, Jewish students from overseas.
• For students who are here on a student visa, who have threatened their fellow students, threatened Jewish
• students, who have supported a terrorist organizations, who have... broken our law by trespassing or
• your support of HBCUs.

Keywords: educational reform, federal grants, bureaucracy, wealth disparity, public testimony

Summary: The committee meeting engaged in discussions focused primarily on educational reform, the influence of federal grants on local education systems, and the growing disparities in wealth and access to quality education. Members expressed concerns about the bureaucracy surrounding federal funding that hampers schools' ability to obtain necessary resources for improvement. Several members highlighted personal anecdotes from constituents, emphasizing the urgent need for reform to help students succeed in both K-12 and higher education environments. The meeting included public testimonies that provided insights into various community perspectives on these pressing issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• student success with the implementation of support for mental health.
• <00:02:42.879> student targeted towards supporting student targeted towards supporting student
• support. Terry Rivere in support. support. Terry Rivere in support.
• Uh, he is the student regent, and it's important that the students—this is the students' voice on the
• Uh, he is the student regent, and it's important that the students—this is the students' voice on the

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard HCR 96, which encourages the University of Hawaiʻi to evaluate and expand student mental health services. University of Hawaiʻi Associate Vice President Farah Marie Gomes testified in support and noted the system’s mental health and basic-needs efforts across all 10 campuses. Members discussed staffing and funding constraints, including that the system had 27 adult mental health positions, 21 filled and six vacant, with one vacancy open for about four years. The resolution was adopted unanimously, unamended. The committee then took up several gubernatorial appointments. GM 785 nominated Wendo Hensel to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), and GM 784 nominated Terry George to the same body. Both nominees testified about the value of Hawaiʻi’s participation in WICHE; Hensel emphasized the importance of sharing policy ideas and best practices, while George highlighted Hawaiʻi’s unique higher education needs and the benefits of learning from other western states. Both nominations were supported and moved forward. The committee also considered multiple appointments to the Hawaiʻi Commission for National and Community Service. Kylie Alakard described wanting to serve as a youth voice and role model, and Ray Galas spoke about his prior volunteer board experience and desire to help people connect through service. Sandra Larson said volunteerism and community service were important to her and that she wanted to give back. The committee then heard GM 771 and GM 772 for Ken Kawahara to the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi; Kawahara said he would bring business and government experience to help with internal operations, education, and strategic goals, though he acknowledged he was still learning the organization’s details. Members also began hearing GM 624 for Joshua Famuina to the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents, with student caucus testimony in strong support emphasizing his attendance, communication, and engagement with students.

Transcript Highlights:

• students have to students...
• In addition to these teachers and student support personnel, the matrix also calculates funding for one
• These support schools and charters that use specific research-based practices to help students who qualify
• On the matrix on slide 37, this is in regard to student support staff.
• For example, without a clear definition of student support staff in the matrix, instructional assistance

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to the teachers and student support personnel, In addition to the teachers and student support
• So, for example, you would take the total 33.69 classroom teachers and student support staff and multiply
• These support schools and charters that use specific research-based practices to help students who qualify
• On the matrix, on slide 37, On the matrix on slide 37, this is in regard to student support staff.
• For example, without a clear definition of student support staff in the matrix, instructional assistants

Summary: The House and Senate Education Committee first approved minutes from February 2 and 3, then took up an interim study proposal on adult education and the Excel Center model. Representatives from Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, the Excel Center network, and the University of Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities testified that roughly 300,000 Arkansans over age 19 lack a high school diploma or GED, and argued that the Excel Center provides a supported diploma pathway for adults who struggle with GED testing. Witnesses highlighted wraparound services such as free child care, transportation assistance, tutoring, life coaching, and career services, and cited outcomes including high retention, growing enrollment, and research showing higher employment and earnings and lower criminal justice involvement for graduates. Committee members raised questions about the state’s role, existing adult education programs, and how the study would be structured; the motion to adopt the ISP passed, though there was some procedural disagreement about when questions should have been taken. The committee then heard a detailed adequacy funding overview from BLR staff Katie Walden and Adrian Beck on Arkansas K-12 education finance. They reviewed national funding principles and explained Arkansas’s system, including state and local revenue sources, the Public School Fund, the Educational Excellence Trust Fund, the Educational Adequacy Fund, and the Facilities Partnership Program. Staff said K-12 state and local revenues totaled $6.6 billion in 2025, with foundation funding making up the largest share of district and charter funding, followed by additional, categorical, and supplemental funds. They also explained the matrix-based foundation formula, the role of the uniform rate of tax, and how categorical and supplemental funds support areas such as alternative learning, English learners, special education high-cost cases, teacher salary equalization, declining enrollment, and student growth. Members asked several follow-up questions about how specific funding categories are defined and used, including student support staff, instructional aides, special education high-cost occurrences, ALE funding, teacher salary equalization, and the inclusion of Excel Center amounts in state-local funding totals. Staff said some of those details would be addressed in a later presentation and offered to provide additional records, including district lists and historical information. The meeting ended after the funding overview, with no additional votes or actions beyond the ISP adoption and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This funding supports student success, retention, and completion.
• And so we're hoping to see continued support for that students who have gotten jobs that they otherwise
• There are several things: culture, climate, basic needs, health supports for our students when our parents
• We are requesting a $5 million appropriation to support our programs, educators, and students because
• The tribal colleges are committed to strengthening partnerships with local high schools to support student

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and wanting to support those students in that process, actually finding the right, trying to identify
• We highly support it.
• We highly support it.
• to want to come back, and for parents to be supportive of their students coming back to that school?
• being supportive of their students coming back to that school thank you for that um parents uh I'm a

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a broad coalition of support behind this bill, including about 400 students across our state
• has no training, but would you support the concept of perhaps requiring a student to, if they wish to
• has no training, but would you support the concept of perhaps requiring a student to, if they wish to
• So, please support the Protecting College Students Act.
• We are not aware of any student support for other versions of the bill.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we talk about a school that is designed and created to support student learning and to support innovative
• student learning to created to support student learning to support<01:21:38.320> innovative<01
• And that support, um, also includes the helping of going through the goals assessment for the students
• And that support, um, also includes the helping of going through the goals assessment for the students
• And that support, um, also includes the helping of going through the goals assessment for the students

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I<00:08:08.000> can<00:08:08.080> tell we support our students and I can tell we support
• <00:09:28.160> that students and help support programs that students and help support programs
• academic support and we've invested a lot in additional tutoring support services for those students
• to actually go and get the students to actually go and get the support<00:24:57.360> they<00:
• success supports around their student success supports around their student success programs<00:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a full quorum and approved the prior minutes. Members offered introductions of guests and family members, then heard a presentation from University of Louisville President Thomas Jared Bradley, who was sworn in before testifying. He described his background and outlined U of L’s strategic priorities: student success, access and affordability, workforce development, community engagement, and research. Bradley highlighted enrollment growth, increases in first-generation and Pell-eligible students, strong transfer pathways with KCTCS, and support programs such as the Cardinal Commitment Grant, 15-to-Finish, Comeback Cards, tutoring, mentoring, and mental health services. Bradley also emphasized U of L’s statewide and regional impact through UofL Health, rural outreach, the Bullitt County rural cancer education and research center, nursing expansion, and the Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. He noted major institutional distinctions, including R1 status, a new Carnegie Opportunity College and University designation, and community-engaged classification. He said the university is one of only 10 public universities nationwide with all three designations and reported record enrollment, improved retention, and strong research expenditures. He also thanked lawmakers for significant capital and operating support, including funding for the simulation center, health science center, asset preservation, and the MEP program. During questions, members praised the university’s public service role and asked about first-generation enrollment, retention, graduation rates, and post-graduation outcomes. Bradley said the university is working to improve completion by expanding academic support, early alerts, incentives for tutoring, and faculty/advisor mentoring, especially for first-generation and high-need students. He acknowledged that post-graduation employment data is difficult to collect but said the new Carnegie classification reflects positive outcomes. No votes were taken beyond approving the minutes, and no formal actions were taken on legislation in this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to advocate for federal support in developing student-focused identity verification tools that
• for students.
• Great support of that.
• But hearing from campuses that support staff are exhausted, they are from constant monitoring of students
• GREAT SUPPORT OF THAT.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Technical student organizations.
• Technical student organizations.
• Technical student organizations.
• Technical student organizations.
• <00:17:16.280> back Support students when they came back into the building.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 01:24 Attendance Roll Call: 01:44 KY Association for Career & Technical Education: 03:40 Senate Concurrent Resolution 43 (Sen. West): 10:42 Senate Bill 77 (Sen. Deneen ): 31:26 Senate Bill 120 (Sen. Chambers Armstrong): 35:04 Adjournment: 51:44, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with a quorum and heard a presentation from Parker Keys, Northern Kentucky State Vice President for Kentucky FFA, on the value of career and technical education (CTE). He highlighted enrollment of more than 143,000 secondary students in CTE, work-based learning, dual credit, industry certifications, and the role of student organizations such as DECA, FBLA, FCCLA, FFA, Educators Rising, TSA, and SkillsUSA. Senators praised CTE as important for workforce readiness and resume building, and encouraged continued engagement with the committee. The committee then considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 43, sponsored by Senator Steve West, supporting a Southern Regional Education Board initiative to expand crisis counseling and recovery support for schools and colleges after tragedies and disasters. Dr. Steven Puit and Linda Tyrie described a regional network of trained counselors modeled on Kentucky’s response after Marshall County, emphasizing long-term recovery, psychological first aid, and deployment support for up to a year after an event. Members spoke in strong support, citing the lasting impact of Marshall County and Heath, and the resolution passed 13-0 and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 77, a cleanup bill relating to the Education Professional Standards Board. Senator Matt Deneen and Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities representative Mr. Dyer explained that the bill clarifies that small independent colleges and universities may designate a qualified education department representative, not only a chief academic officer, to serve on the board. The committee adopted a committee substitute by voice vote, and the substitute was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> farm-toschool programs support student farm-toschool programs support student health,<00:40:07.599
• We have Student Press Law Center in support. Media Council Hawaii in support.
• We have Student Press Law support.
• We have Student Press Law Center<00:47:16.880> in<00:47:17.560> support.
• Student Support Services representing of Student Support Services representing the<00:54:05.680> Department

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint committees on Education and Higher Education first heard HCR 75 and HR 67, which ask the Department of Education and the University of Hawaiʻi to assess criteria for building an educational pipeline and curriculum for advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity. The Department of Education said it would stand on its written testimony, and UH supported the measure, noting existing community college and four-year programs related to the topic. Members asked how DOE promotes cybersecurity opportunities and whether it provides funding; DOE said schools usually connect with partners and its office works with them, but it does not have separate funding for such efforts. UH also explained that some advanced manufacturing concepts may overlap with 3D printing, material sciences, and entrepreneurship, and described P20 as a forum for aligning K-12 and higher education pathways. The committees then recessed the joint hearing and moved to the Education Committee agenda. The committee next heard HCR 46 and HR 39, which would make DOE recreational facilities available to the public during non-peak hours and non-school days. DOE said it already uses facilities agreements with insurance, liability waivers, indemnification, and certificates of insurance to protect schools. The Attorney General opposed the resolutions, warning that unrestricted public use without safeguards could create substantial liability and cost risks for the state. The measure’s introducer said the goal was to help underserved communities that lack access to public recreation spaces, and DOE said it would be open to joint-use arrangements with larger organizations but remained concerned about vandalism and liability. The committee also heard HCR 86 and HR 80 on creating an Aloha Civics working group, with DOE offering comments and Common Cause Hawaiʻi strongly supporting the idea. DOE described a civic learning and engagement task force that met with stakeholders, including UH and the PACE Commission, and produced recommendations such as building partnership inventories, integrating civic learning across grade levels, and aligning the work with DOE’s HA framework and learner outcomes. Common Cause said civic education can be implemented effectively and affordably, citing existing school projects such as ranked-choice voting and classroom constitutions. Later, the committee took up HCR 87 and HR 81, urging an annual Climate Week in public schools. DOE again stood on written comments, while the Climate Change and Health Working Group, Climate Future Forum, a student from Kaimuki High School, and other supporters argued that a dedicated week would ensure consistent climate education, build resilience, and connect climate issues to health, food security, and disaster preparedness. Supporters said existing climate-related opportunities are uneven across schools and that a formal Climate Week would create a more equitable approach. The committee then heard HCR 95 and HR 91 on informing students about changes to gun safety and storage laws; DOE asked for clarification on the measure’s intended outcome, and one individual testified in support. Finally, the committee heard HCR 104 and HR 100 on strengthening farm-to-school initiatives. DOE said it is already working to improve menus, emphasize local products, and meet with distributors to increase local procurement, while the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience offered food science, nutrition, and extension support. Climate Future Forum, the Hawaii Youth Food Council, and other supporters said farm-to-school efforts are important for student health, local farmers, and food sovereignty, noting that local food procurement in schools remains far below the state’s 30% by 2030 goal. DOE explained it is trying to provide distributors and farmers with more predictable demand and is meeting with distributors to set up next year’s supply chain.

Transcript Highlights:

• That said, the model must evolve if it truly is going to support, encourage, and reward student success
• by 88% to $31,715 per student.
• . students. students.
• that students face upon graduation. that students face upon graduation.
• this project while ensuring no support this project while ensuring no student<00:26:59.440> misses

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education met without a quorum, so no minutes were approved. The committee then heard a presentation from Western Kentucky University President Timothy Kabone, who highlighted WKU’s recent gains in graduation rate, retention, degree production, graduate enrollment, research activity, and financial stability. He said WKU’s FY 2026 budget is structurally balanced without one-time reserves, and he tied the university’s growth to its strategic plan and to Senate Bill 77, which created a pathway for WKU’s first PhD program. WKU’s initial PhD offering is planned in data sciences for fall 2027, and Kabone said the university continues to pursue R2 research status. Kabone also outlined WKU’s budget requests, including a 4.5% base appropriation increase for each year of the biennium, a $30 million increase in the performance funding pool, a $30 million trust fund for tuition waiver reimbursement, and $2 million per year for the Gatton Academy. He also requested continued funding for the Kentucky Mesonet, 8.9% of proposed asset preservation funding, and support for a $280 million new Potter College facility. He emphasized inflationary pressures, rising fixed costs, and the burden of mandated tuition waivers, and said the university supports performance funding but wants the model adjusted to better reward student success rather than enrollment growth. Members asked about WKU’s student housing situation and the transition away from the former student life foundation model. Kabone said the foundation structure had run its course, that the university had lacked adequate oversight under the old arrangement, and that WKU is moving to a public-private partnership with Gilbane and the College Housing Foundation. He said the new model would not increase the university’s debt load and would replace older residence halls with a roughly 1,000-bed complex, eliminate community-style bathrooms over time, and expand living-learning communities. Representatives McCool and Tipton praised WKU’s graduation and retention results and asked questions about the housing project and its timeline. The committee then heard from CareerVXR and KCTCS about a proposed career exploration pilot. Company representatives said the platform uses web-based and virtual reality experiences to show students real jobs and workplaces, with the goal of addressing an “awareness gap” in workforce participation. They proposed a $1.8 million, two-year pilot to reach 50,000 to 60,000 students in three regions, including Hazard Community and Technical College, Southeast Community and Technical College, and western Kentucky. Members asked about cost, funding source, and locations, and were told the request would come through the KCTCS budget. The meeting ended with notice that the next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, February 26.

Transcript Highlights:

• , supporting students transitioning from summer, welcoming and acclimating newcomers to buildings, and
• So, thank you for your support here.
• Our student body of around 5,400 students is approximately 61% students of color, approximately 60% of
• It empowers students with opportunity and builds confidence in their abilities... ...supports the economic
• I urge your continued support of this program to ensure that all Minnesota students, regardless of background

Transcript Highlights:

• . students. students.
• We've got to find multiple options and opportunities to support our students, and this is one of those
• We've got to find multiple options and opportunities to support our students, and this is one of those
• We've got to find multiple options and opportunities to support our students, and this is one of those
• We've got to find multiple options and opportunities to support our students, and this is one of those

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House Republican leaders and Speaker Melissa Hortman held a press event promoting House File 3490, which would opt Minnesota into a federal education tax credit program. They argued the bill has no state cost and would keep donations made by Minnesotans benefiting Minnesota students and schools rather than out-of-state scholarship organizations. Supporters said the funds could help with tutoring, extracurriculars, school supplies, special education-related services, learning loss, and other school needs, and they repeatedly urged Governor Tim Walz to opt in or publicly explain why he would not. Rep. Andrew Myers, the bill’s chief author, said the proposal is personal to him as a parent and legislator and described recent school budget pressures, including staff and resource cuts and larger class sizes. Rep. Ben Bakeberg, a middle school principal, said the bill could generate significant funding if many taxpayers participate and argued it could help offset school district shortfalls and the Blue Ribbon Commission. Rep. Griesbach also backed the bill, calling it a “no-brainer” and saying he would not work with the governor on other budget items unless the governor opted in. In response to questions, supporters said scholarship-granting organizations could be created by a variety of entities, including education foundations, and could support both private-school tuition and public-school-related costs such as extracurricular fees, field trips, and transportation for summer learning. They rejected the idea that the bill pits public and nonpublic schools against each other, saying it is meant to expand educational opportunity for all students. No vote or formal committee action was taken during the event; it ended with questions from reporters on the bill and other Republican priorities such as rental assistance, gas taxes, and energy costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• AND SUPPORT WORKFORCE READINESS.
• IN WAYS THAT ENHANCE INSTRUCTION, PROTECT STUDENTS AND SUPPORT WORKFORCE READINESS.
• IT CAN SUPPORT PERSONALIZE LEARNING, IDENTIFY STUDENTS NEEDS EARLIER, AUTOMATE ROUTINE TASKS SO THAT
• HOW DO WE GET STUDENTS ON IT?
• TO GUIDE OUR STUDENTS. >> Rep.

Transcript Highlights:

• We would also want to investigate that as well. consider the support of our students.
• So consider the support of our students.
• <00:49:31.359> our those things that help support our those things that help support our students
• behavioral supports which are intended to<01:33:41.600> help<01:33:41.840> students<01
• <01:35:27.760> students<01:35:28.080> that time is helping to support students that

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and sustainment support for our students and sustainment support for our students and our<00:42:
• Finally, this last photo captures why our employees come to work each day: to support our students to
• I will also note that the University of Minnesota is a research powerhouse, and we support our students
• > our support our students maintain our support our students maintain our historical<01:35:44.360
• Our goal is to support students' education, development, and success.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• are<00:04:30.680> at<00:04:31.120> and students students where they are at and students
• I urge you to please support the implementation of these standards for the benefit of all Minnesota students
• I urge you to please support the implementation of these standards for the benefit of all Minnesota students
• <01:38:41.400> I Minnesota Public School student I Minnesota Public School student I support
• to support these standards, one of the most vital, is the belief that all students in our state deserve

Keywords: 1183, house